A 70-year-old tree, intended to serve as a central feature in a housing development in south London, may face removal due to the potential impact of the project, according to a planning assessment.
The Japanese pagoda tree was a prominent aspect of Merton Council’s disputed proposal to construct 93 new homes on the heritage site of Canons House in Mitcham, with plans for the residences to be oriented toward it.
However, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) indicated that the development could likely cause “significant, unavoidable effects, both above and below ground” on the tree, which was previously honored as the borough’s “tree of the year.”
Merton Council was reached for comments but stated it could not provide feedback on ongoing planning matters.
The RHS produced a report to meet the planning criteria aimed at safeguarding the tree. The findings suggested that the anticipated damage presented a “well-founded case for the removal and replacement of the tree.”
Additionally, the report highlighted that the volume of canopy that would need to be removed “would considerably reduce the tree’s local visual appeal” and “jeopardize the tree’s capacity to photosynthesize and generate energy.”
The site, located within the grounds of the Grade II-listed Canons House, is undergoing significant enhancements, following the receipt of £4.4 million in funding from the National Lottery.
The housing initiative by the council has sparked backlash over its potential consequences for the heritage site.
The Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage group expressed that the danger posed to the tree is just one of several concerns raised by its members regarding the proposal.
Chairman Tony Burton stated, “This jeopardizes the nearly £5 million investment, supported by the National Lottery, allocated to this prime heritage site.”
“Regardless of the advantages or disadvantages of permitting development, there is a unanimous agreement that the award-winning pagoda tree ought to remain the centerpiece of any new housing.”
Merton Council plans to construct approximately 400 new homes across four different locations within the borough to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.
The borough reportedly has one of the longest projected timelines in England for addressing its social housing waiting list.
